Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus,

“You have forsaken Me, says the LORD, you are gone backward . . . . If you return, then will I bring you again, and you shall stand before Me: and if you separate the precious from the vile, you shall be as My mouth: let them return to you; but return not you to them. And I shall make you to this people a fortified brazen wall: and they shall fight against you, but they shall not prevail against you: for I am with you to save you and to deliver you, says the LORD.” Jeremiah 15:6a,19-20 (KJVER)

 Three months remaining of my annual read of God’s Word from cover-to-cover, and the writings of the Prophet Jeremiah seem a bit more difficult or particularly harsh this time around. There are consequences when a nation turns its back on God as evidenced by increased disregard for His precepts. For as God never changes (Number 23:19; 1 Samuel 15:29; Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 13:8) neither do His precepts. In other words, God says what He means, and means what He says.

 When “going through” the WORD strongly advises us to stand firm-footed on God-speak because the cohorts of the thief whose only intent is to steal and kill and destroy (John 10:10a) come to plant wrong thoughts for wrong focus, to illicit the wrong words out of one’s own mouth. Therefore, wrong thoughts are to be cast down immediately because such will eventually come forth from the mouth. For not only will these come out of the mouth but such becomes a root which becomes a tree that produces ungodly fruit – the antithesis of Galatians 5:22-23. “Just as the mouth tastes good food, the ear tests the words it hears.” Job 34:3 (NLT).

There is no such thing as “necessary evil” relative to God’s way; evil isn’t of Him. “God will not do wrong. The Almighty cannot twist justice.” Job 34:12 (NLT)

GOD is able. “God always answers, one way or another, even when people don’t recognize his presence. . . .We cannot imagine the power of the Almighty, yet he is so just and merciful that he does not oppress us.” Job 33:14 (MSG) & 37:23 (NLT)

Wisdom doesn’t necessarily come with either age nor experience nor status. The Spirit of Truth who is the Holy Spirit within each reconciled unto God by the Blood develops comprehension toward wisdom. As it is written, “The experts have no corner on wisdom; getting old doesn’t guarantee good sense” Job 32:8,9 (MSG).

The peace that passeth all understanding (Philippians 4:7) comes of the revelation that GOD is both able and takes great pleasure in helping us. Jesus said, “for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” Luke 12:32 (KJVER). As the Spirit of God revealed through the Apostle Paul, God’s “unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. And this gave him great pleasure” Ephesians 1:5 (NLT).

Speak the promise . . . Harriet